Country profile

United Kingdom

Europe & Central AsiaHigh income69.23M inhabitants

Last updated February 1, 2026

Composite GEFRI Score

Advanced readiness

United Kingdom reaches an advanced readiness tier (96th percentile worldwide). Most dimensions perform above global norms, and the system has clear capacity to scale future-oriented initiatives. Higher scores indicate a system that is better prepared to anticipate and shape the future of learning.

77.03Composite score

Global percentile: 96th
Global rank: #8
Regional rank: #5
Viewing data for

Infrastructure

74.39

91st percentileGlobal avg. 56.42

Human Capital

63.34

92nd percentileGlobal avg. 46.98

Innovation

73.11

94th percentileGlobal avg. 42.60

Governance

81.32

91st percentileGlobal avg. 47.71

Access & Parity

93.01

93rd percentileGlobal avg. 50.60

Country profile

United Kingdom ranks among the world’s most future-ready systems. Every GEFRI dimension performs well above global norms, with notable strengths in School Access and Gender Parity (93, 93rd percentile), Governance (81, 91st percentile), Infrastructure (74, 91st percentile), Innovation (73, 94th percentile), and Human Capital (63, 92nd percentile). This profile reflects sustained investment in innovation, equitable access, and system-wide capability.

Uneven scores across dimensions highlight areas that need targeted coordination. High internet adoption enables broad participation in digital learning and innovation. Strong tertiary enrollment expands future talent pipelines and strengthens national innovation potential.

Strong R&D funding and a sizable research workforce keep the innovation pipeline active, moving new solutions into education. Policy and regulatory teams coordinate effectively, keeping reforms aligned and providing the stability needed for long-term educational planning. Gender parity across secondary pathways reflects sustained commitment to equitable participation.

Regionally, United Kingdom leads most clearly in Innovation, sitting well above the peer average.

Note: Most indicators rely on observed data, offering a dependable evidence base for decisions.

Key insights

Ranks in the 96th percentile worldwide, placing the system among high performers.
Places 8th worldwide.
Holds a regional position of 5th within Europe & Central Asia.
Scores range from Access & Parity (93.0) to Human Capital (63.3), reflecting variation across dimensions.
Leads regional peers most clearly in Innovation.

Regional peers: Europe & Central Asia

Composite GEFRI score

Global rank	Regional rank	Country	Score
1	1	Denmark	82.00
4	2	Switzerland	78.09
6	3	Netherlands	77.83
7	4	Sweden	77.29
8	5	United Kingdom	77.03
9	6	Austria	76.84
10	7	Finland	76.84
12	8	Germany	76.42
13	9	Norway	76.31
15	10	France	75.63
18	11	Portugal	73.38
19	12	Estonia	73.29
22	13	Czechia	72.28
23	14	Iceland	72.00
24	15	Slovenia	71.90
25	16	Lithuania	71.83
26	17	Belgium	71.76
27	18	Ireland	71.34
28	19	Poland	71.15
29	20	Spain	70.41
30	21	Luxembourg	70.23
31	22	Italy	70.15
33	23	Greece	69.96
35	24	Cyprus	69.32
36	25	Latvia	68.81
—	—	LiechtensteinMicrostate	68.27
37	26	Hungary	66.71
38	27	Croatia	66.50
—	—	San MarinoMicrostate	64.62
—	—	GibraltarMicrostate	64.49
—	—	AndorraMicrostate	64.13
40	28	Bulgaria	63.95
43	29	Moldova	63.48
44	30	Serbia	63.27
46	31	Turkiye	62.68
—	—	MonacoMicrostate	62.44
48	32	Slovak Republic	61.61
51	33	Montenegro	60.77
52	34	Armenia	60.50
—	—	Channel IslandsMicrostate	60.45
54	35	Albania	60.15
—	—	Isle of ManMicrostate	60.00
55	36	Russian Federation	59.93
—	—	Faroe IslandsMicrostate	59.77
57	37	Kazakhstan	59.29
58	38	Georgia	58.71
60	39	North Macedonia	58.45
61	40	Belarus	57.83
69	41	Uzbekistan	56.65
70	42	Bosnia and Herzegovina	56.62
—	—	GreenlandMicrostate	56.39
78	43	Romania	54.34
80	44	Kyrgyz Republic	54.07
88	45	Kosovo	51.19
92	46	UkraineFCS	50.59
100	47	Azerbaijan	48.44
104	48	Turkmenistan	46.09
107	49	Tajikistan	43.87